Despite completing its second weekend of scrimmage, more questions surround Southern Miss baseball's lineup than answers.
However, that hasn't been a bad thing, but more so, it's because of the depth and talent as was the case in Sunday's scrimmage.
OUTFIELD SHAKEUP
Through the fall and the start of the spring, it seemed that Kentucky transfer Ben Higdon would win the job in the center. That doesn't seem apparent anymore, and it's not because Hidgon has not played well.
Sophomore Jake Cook is making a big push in the outfield, as he perhaps has the hottest bat of any player. On Saturday, he went 4-for-5 with two ground-rule doubles. Sunday was no different for the sophomore after he went 4-for-5 again with two more doubles. Cook's glove and, more so, speed give USM's lineup something it needs, and that draws a resemblance to last year's starting center fielder Dalton McIntyre.
As a result of Cook's play, he started in center field, and Higdon was moved to left field. This could potentially move last year's starting left fielder, Davis Gillespie, to the designated hitter role.
Gillespie finished 1-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs. The sophomore hit an RBI double and also drew a walk. Higdon went 1-for-3 on Sunday and reached base on an error.
STARTING PITCHING
Veteran Matthew Adams looked unhittable after having a less-than-ideal outing in the first weekend of the scrimmages. Both were extended to four innings of work.
Adams rang up seven strikeouts and only gave up one hit as he consistently threw at 90 mph. His lone blemish was a two-out infield single to Higdon.
True freshman Grayden Harris has looked well beyond his years and could challenge to be a weekend starter. The left-hander stays between 91 and 92 mph but has shown maturity beyond his years after getting out of jams with minimal damage.
In his first inning, Harris surrendered a one-out double to Cook, who moved to third on an error but responded with a strikeout and a flyout to end the inning. In Harris' second inning of work, he gave up a leadoff walk but then induced a double play, which was followed by a strikeout.
In the third inning, Harris gave up back-to-back singles and then an RBI double to Gillespie, a fielder's choice RBI to Matthew Russo before getting out of the inning. However, he bounced back by striking out the side to end his day. In four innings, Harris struck out five batters and allowed two runs off four hits and a walk.
INJURY REPORT
On Friday, catcher Lawson Odom was hit in the face during an at-bat, which could prevent him from starting the opening weekend. True freshman catcher Coy Clements, who had been seeing action behind the plate this spring, filled the No. 2 catching spot.
Notably, neither veteran left-hander Chase Adams or Drake Meeks, who topped out at 97 mph during the fall have yet to throw this spring.
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